Sponsoring Agency: City of Somerville
Deadline Available: Not Available
Deadline Date (mm/dd/yyyy):
Size of the Fund: Less than USD $50,000
Round 3 of the Somerville Covid-19 Small Business Relief Program will support Somerville businesses experiencing a substantial decline in business activity because of Covid-19 and impacted by industry specific closures mandated by the Commonwealth or the City of Somerville.
The program is designed to bridge the gap between now and when additional Commonwealth or Federal funds are available (anticipated in February 2021).
The City has created a $5 million fund to support this effort and could award a maximum of $25,000 for each qualified business location. The actual award amounts will vary and the typical award will be less.
Funding Information
• Businesses may be awarded up to $25,000 and capped at an amount equal to two months of rent/mortgage expenses for a business location. The final award amount may be adjusted to reflect the degree to which the business location has been impacted financially from Covid-19 and the ability for the business to document reimbursable expenses.
• Businesses will be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in 2020 during the pandemic. Only expenses incurred since April 1, 2020 will be considered.
• Awards will be made as forgivable loans. Loan forgiveness will occur once the awardee completes all required documentation.
Eligibility Criteria
• For-profit businesses and nonprofit organizations in the following sectors are eligible to apply:
o Restaurants, bars, caterers
o Indoor Recreation or Entertainment Establishments
Indoor entertainment establishments (e.g. movie theaters, comedy clubs, performing arts venues/organizations)
Indoor recreation (e.g. arcades, bowling centers, pool/billiard halls, escape-the-rooms, trampoline parks, roller-skating rinks)
Other indoor recreation or entertainment venues
o Gyms or Fitness Centers
Gyms, athletic clubs, exercise centers, health clubs
Sports facilities (e.g. tennis clubs, racquetball clubs, hockey rinks, swimming facilities)
Fitness instruction centers (e.g. aerobics, dance, yoga, karate, etc.)
o Businesses that can demonstrate close ties to gyms, theaters, event spaces, or other sectors facing government-directed closures and whose revenues have decreased by at least 50% in the past year are now eligible.
• Business must be located in Somerville, Massachusetts
• Business must have been established prior to April 1, 2020
• Businesses must have remained open as of December 1, 2020, temporarily closed, or would have been open on December 1, 2020 but for a state or city mandated Covid-19 related closure.
• Entities must be a for-profit cooperative, sole proprietor, corporation, partnership, or a non-profit organization.
• Business must be independently-owned, a Somerville location of a small chain (with 10 or fewer locations), or a Somerville location of an independently-owned franchise where the owner owns fewer than 10 units. City staff may consider businesses that do not strictly meet this definition if it is determined that the business unit contributes substantially to the unique characteristics of Somerville’s business ecosystem.
• Businesses must have experienced a significant decline in business revenue as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic or the associated government-mandated business closures and restrictions. If you don’t need help, please don’t apply.
• Business must be in good standing with the City of Somerville:
o Business must be current on all taxes due through 3/1/2020; and
o Have active and valid state and City licenses/registrations, if applicable
This program focuses resources on those industry sectors that have been restricted most substantially by government-mandated Covid-19 closures, including sectors that have been closed throughout the pandemic.
Language Translations
Program overview information will be available in the following languages shortly: (Application remains in English)
• Portuguese
• Spanish
• Haitian Creole
More information at: https://www.somervillema.gov/departments/programs/small-business-covid-19-relief-fund
